Carnival: time to go home

The entire Piazza San Marco was spangled with confetti. It was like laughter all over the ground.

I’m writing this on Martedi Grasso (Fat Tuesday) but I feel the hot breath of Lent on my neck. People with suitcases heading toward the train station and airport have been filling the vaporettos since this morning, even as the tourist launches continue to haul their loads of fun-seekers from Punta Sabbioni (where their big buses don’t have to pay any fees) back and forth across the Bacino of San Marco to the Piazza San Marco.

We went to the Piazza this afternoon to watch the official presentation of the Maria who won first prize, blue ribbon, grand cru, or whatever they give her. It was boring. What was more amusing were some of the costumes, as well as the massive lion of San Marco, complete with requisite book under upraised paw, made entirely of plant material — fruit, vegetables, leaves and fronds and huge lashings of imagination.

This fantastic lion of San Marco is composed of red apples, purple cabbages, laurel leaves, and carrots. He's also wearing a red-apple mask, which is kind of cool.

An example of the standard, often rented, luxury costume. Nice, but not very imaginative.

I don't have any idea if she made this or bought it, but it's one of the best masks I've ever seen.

Infinitely more fun: Somebody's version of Papageno (center), Papagena (left) and I can't remember exactly who, carrying the magic flute.

I'm dazzled not only by their imagination, but their patience. I'd never take the time to stick all those feathers onto my clothes, much less in my hair.

Then we were back in via Garibaldi for the free fritole and galani that local restaurateur and personality Lucio Bisutto arranged for some local club to give out. That old saying, “Build it and they will come”? Here, it’s “Put free food on a table and they will come.” The little old ladies are always the first; they’re like circling buzzards who can sense dying prey.